Sen. Boozman Urges Action on COOL Repeal as Congress Readies to Reconvene
The Canadian and Mexican governments could level close to $300 million in retaliatory tariffs on Arkansas produce over U.S. country-of-origin labeling and Congress should “move to act” on repeal, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said in his website on Sept. 2. Boozman is a high-ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, which wields jurisdiction over COOL regulations. Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, tried unsuccessfully to tack a repeal measure onto the Senate’s multi-year highway bill in late July before the chamber departed for recess (see 1507300029).
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Boozman backed that effort, and pledged to try more methods to repeal. “I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee to resolve this issue,” said Boozman (here). “Arkansas farmers, manufactures and consumers can’t afford to foot the bill for bad policy. If we don’t move to act, that is exactly what will happen. The COOL mandate clearly is in violation of our trade agreements and our partners are eager to respond with tariffs.”
Agriculture ranking member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and committee member John Hoeven, R-N.D., introduced a voluntary alternative to the COOL regulations in July, but the Canadian Agriculture minister flatly rejected the proposal and again vowed to move ahead with retaliation by the end of the summer (see 1507310017). Canada claims the regulations caused roughly $2.5 million in damages to its domestic market.
The World Trade Organization is still considering those figures after rejecting the U.S.’ final appeal in the case in May (see 1505270016). Hoeven recently insisted the voluntary alternative (here), which repeals mandatory regulations on beef, pork and chicken, would comply with global trade rules. Should Canada proceed with retaliation, the U.S. may then be in a position to challenge Canadian trade practice at the WTO, he said. The Agriculture Committee didn’t respond for comment. The House passed COOL repeal in June (see 1506100067).